Dragging or pulling device especially for skiers



Oct. 15, 1968 VON KEMENCZKY 3,405,777

DRAGGING OR PULLING DEVICE ESPECIALLY FOR SKIERS Filed June 15, 1966 x I m m m m i FIG.4 fi H65 INVENTOR. Miklos v Kemenczky ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,405,777 DRAGGING 0R PULLING DEVICE ESPECIALLY FOR SKIERS Miklos von Kemenczky, 326 Curtis Ave., Point Pleasant, NJ. 08742 Filed June 13, 1966, SenNo. 557,168 1 Claim. (Cl. 180-7) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention relates to a motor driven towing device especially for skiers in which the traction is provided by a pair of cylinders with spiral ribs, the device being provided with a steering structure which enables the skier to control the device from a distance behind the traction cylinders.

This invention relates to a drag device for pulling skiers, skaters, sledders, etc. 1

Heretofore certain devices have been known which serve to pull skiers at a certain speed on snow-covered plains or even slightly sloping fields. These devices have not been successful in practice due to their insuflicient traction, their small adhesive surface and to the considerable resistance of the snow.

One type of'ski-dragging device described by prior patents is made simply of rollers that are motor driven and provided with ribs disposed parallel to the axis of rotation. Such an arrangement provides sufficient drag only when the snow is not deep. In fresh powder snow, such a device sinks too deeply and thus creates a resistance which stops the entire assembly. 7

Another'such device is provided with a kind of tractor chain or belt of metalor plastic; this device likewise stops when snow or ice accumulates between the chains, or the belts and the driving Wheel. Moreover, this type of device is too heavy and complicated for employing in sports.

Another type of dragging device comprises means afiixed to a broad skiboard and consisting of an air propeller driven by a gasoline motor. These require a heavy motor with propeller of large diameter, particularly if they are to pull uphill. The air masses which are thrust backwards, by the propeller partly mixed with snow, not only brake the speed, but become unpleasant and even dangerous to the user. Because of the diameter of the propeller the heavy motor is disposed high above the ski board and thus endangers the stability of the device particularly on curves.

Further snow vehicles are known which are large and weigh several tons such as those in which two parallel cylinders provided with spiral-shaped screws rotate against each other and thus bore into the snow. This creates the force which is required to push such vehicles forwards. These devices, with spiral cylinders such as have been known for many years, were designed as independent vehicles useful for mud or snow. The steering is accomplished by means of a control surface submerged in the snow, as is customary for boats, or by the diiference in the speed of rotation of the two spiral cylinders.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide winter sports fans with a new and inexpensive device which provides effortless skiing or moving on level ground or between hills or sloping terrains.

Among other objects of the invention is to provide a ski dragging device that is so small that it may easily be packed in any automobile trunk and of such light weight that it may also be carried on the back.

Among still further objects of the invention is to provide a new and inexpensive Way for the teaching of skiing to adults and children without the need of travelling to mountainous areas.

3,405,777 Patented Oct. 15, 1968 Farmers, forest rangers, hunters, those in military service and others are enabled by the invention to cover large distances on skis for inspection or other purposes. For children, the invention may also be used to drag sleds.

Since the speed of the dragging device is related to the construction of the device and to the built-in gasoline or electric motor, it may be designed for high speeds of over km. per hour or for very slow speeds. The dragging or pulling device described in the invention, with motor and container for driving fluid inclusive, depending on the type, weighs between 5 and 25 kg. It is flat, broad and absolutely stable in snow, it pulls as well in deep powder snow as on icy surfaces covered with only a little snow.

The objects of the invention are attained by constructing the pulling or dragging device of two small cylinders which are parallel to each other, torpedo-shaped and adapted to rotate clockwise and counter-clockwise, respectively, each cylinder being provided with a screw of a right or left-hand thread type, having a: length of between about 30 and 100 cm. and a core diameter of 6-12 cm. The two cylinders are rotatably held below a supporting frame and driven by an electric or gasoline motor held upon the supporting frame. According to the invention the two cylinders will retain the same number of revolutions with respect to each other during turning. .The device is free of any steering control means which extends vertically into the snow. According to the invention, the device has a steering rod of such length that the skier who is being pulled or dragged has sutficient free distance for steering, etc., between the end of the device and the tips of his skis. The steering rod may serve for starting, steering, for regulating speed, for pulling and stopping.

The dragging devices of the invention are so designed that the hot exhaust gases are conducted into the rotating cylinder. The gases warm the cylinder walls and the screws and thus prevent freezing or compacting of the snow thereon. Thus, after warming up, the cylinders provide a still smaller frictional resistance.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the application:

FIG. 1 is a side view illustrating how a skier makes use of the dragger of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view similar to FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken through line IIl-III of FIG. 4.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the drag device shown partly in cross-section.

FIG. 5 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 4 of the drag device but showing the steering and control rod thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the dragger or pulling device of the invention comprises two screw cylinders 2 and 3 rotatably attached to extend below the frame 1. The frame 1 is provided with a hood 4 covering the main working parts of motor 5. The pitches of the two screw propelling means 2 and 3 are substantially identical. The hood 4 also carries a fuel tank 6. In the device shown, cylinder 2 rotates clockwise as from the point of view of the skier and cylinder 3 rotates counter-clockwise. The skier holds onto steering rod 7 and also controls the device through rod 7. As can be observed, the rotation of cylinders 2 and 3 as described serves to move the pulling device relative to the snow to provide a pulling force to move said device and the skier forward.

The motor 5 is provided with a rotating axle 8 on which is mounted a centrifugal coupling means or fly 3 wheel 9, to which is also connected the double V-belt pulley 10. The cylinders 2 and 3 each have fastened at the rear end thereof, bevel gears 11 or 12, respectively. The bevel gears 11 and 12 mesh with bevel gears 13 and 14, respectively, and said bevel gears 13 and 14 are driven by the motor 5 through shafts 15 and 16, V-belt pulleys 17 and 18, V-belts 19 and 20 and pulley 10. It will be noted that the shafts 15 and 16, and the bevel gears 13 and 14 are constructed so as to rotate the gears 13 and 14 in opposite directions. A chain and gear system or a gear train may replace the V-belts 19 and 20 and their connecting pulleys:

The shaft 15, as particularly shown in FIG. 3, extends through the stationary block 40 which in turn is held in the'housing 41 connected to the frame 1. The block 40 holds one end of the connecting shaft 42 which extends between block 40 and the front, hollow, bracket element 33. The front hollow bracket element 33 holds the front end of the cylinder 2 below the frame 1 and provides for passage of exhaust gases into the cylinder 2 through openings 44. The gear 11 is secured to the rear end of cylinder 2 and rotates about the bearing 43 which is held on the stationary shaft 42. The front end of the cylinder 22 is provided with a hollow bearing 34 which rotates on the shouldered portion of bracket 33. The cylinder 3 is constructed like cylinder 2 except for the position of gear 14 (see FIG. 4).

The motor 5 may be an electric as well as a gasoline motor in which case the fuel tank 6 can be replaced by rechargeable batteries.

The frame 1 includes a cross-piece 21 (see FIG. 5) at the rear end thereof. Pivotally mounted on the crosspiece 21 is the sleeve 22 having a projecting face 23 to which the steering rod 7 is pivotally attached by means of bolt and nut 25. When in use the steering rod 7 makes an angle X (see FIG. 3) with respect to the ground, the magnitude of the angle X depending on how far the skier holds the handle from the ground. The outer end of the steering rod 7 contains the cross bar 27. Conventional speed regulating means (not shown) in the form of a small lever or a rotatable handle for regulating the gasoline fed in the engine, for example, may be attached to the cross bar 27.

In order for a skier to turn to the right, for example, he pivots the handle 27 in the direction of arrow 28. R- tation of the rod 7 about its axis while it is held at the angle X produces a horizontal component of rotation and a vertical component of rotation. The vertical component of rotation acts in the direction of arrow 29 to rotate the cross-piece 29 (FIG. and the drag device to the right. The handle is free to rotate about the axis of bolt 25 so that vertically the only effect of turning the rod 7 through a small angle is to turn the puller itself to the right or left. Thus, a steering device of very simple construction is provided,

The front portion of the drag device is provided with an upwardly curved lower'sur'face 30. This limits the extent to which the drag device can sink into the snow.

In order to increase the friction or traction between the cylinders 2 and 3 and the snow and to prevent packing of snow on the cylinders 2 and.3,. said cylinders are heated by the exhaust gases. Thus, exhaust pipes 31 and 32 are provided. for the moitor whiclr connect through the front hollow bracket 33, to lead said exhaust gases to the interior of said" cylinders -through openings 44 in bracket 33. Exhaust openings'35 are-provided in the bevel gear member 11 at the rear end of the cylinders to allow the gases to escape.

The features and principles underlying theinvention described above in connection withspecific exemplifications" will suggest to those skilled in the art many other modifications thereof. It is accordingly desired that the appended claim shall not be limited to any specific fea: ture or detailsthereof, I

I claim: i i 1. A pulling or dragging, device. especially useful for skiers comprising: 7

a' frame containing a motor, I I a pair of parallel cylinders mounted to rotate below the said frame,

each of said cylinders being provided with a spiral rib of substantially uniform pitch, I l i the pitch of a first of said cylinders being right-handed and the pitch of the second being'left-handed, I

means on said cylinders for rotating the same, I

means connecting the rotating means of said cylinders to the motor so as to rotate one of said cylinders in a clockwise direction and to simultaneously rotate the other of said cylinders in a counter-clockwise direction, I p

a cross-piece connecting the rear sides of the frame'together, a sleeve pivotally mounted on and surrounding said cross-piece, a steering rod pivotally connected to said sleeve, said steering rod containing control means atthe end thereof whereby the device may be steered by rotating the control means at the end of the steering rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 5/ 1957 Germany. 8/ 1926 Great Britain.

LEO FRIAGLIA, Priinary Examiner. 

